Psychotherapist & Couples Therapist
Clinical Supervision for Psychotherapists and Counselors
Shaun McMahon is a professional supervisor who offers supervision sessions to psychotherapists and counsellors in person in Moonee Ponds, Victoria, and online via Zoom.
As a psychotherapist and clinical supervisor, I offer individual supervision to early-career psychotherapists and counsellors in private practice who are seeking support to grow as practitioners and build thriving businesses. With four years of experience as a therapist and a recent start in a supervisory role, I bring a fresh, collaborative perspective to help you navigate the complexities of clinical work and the practicalities of running a practice.
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How I Can Help
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Supervision with me is designed to support you in developing your clinical skills, refining your approach, and establishing a sustainable private practice. Drawing on my experience and training, I can assist you with:
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Clinical Growth: Enhancing case conceptualisation, micro-skills, and interventions, particularly for complex trauma, Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD), dissociative disorders, and couples work.
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Professional Development: Setting and achieving goals for your practice, such as improving therapeutic presence, managing countertransference, or deepening your use of therapeutic approaches.
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Business Development: Building and scaling your private practice, including marketing, website and social media strategies, office management, client sourcing, accounting, and navigating commercial leases.
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Ethical and Practical Challenges: Addressing difficult cases, ethical dilemmas, and practice-related issues like client retention or session structuring.
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In my own therapy practice, I use an integrative approach grounded in psychodynamic and trauma-informed principles, drawing on Irvin Yalom’s “here and now” stance as well as mentalization-based therapy (MBT). For supervision, I incorporate the STEP UP model, a structured framework designed to guide our sessions effectively, ensuring we address your goals in a focused and meaningful way.
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While I’m passionate about supporting a wide range of professionals, there are some areas where I’m not the best fit:
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Practitioners working primarily in the public sector or clinical settings, as my experience is limited to private practice.
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Social workers or psychologists requiring supervision sign-off for professional registration, though I’m happy to support you with specific clinical or business challenges if sign-off isn’t needed.
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Practitioners based outside Australia, due to regulatory limitations.
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If you’re interested in exploring supervision with me, I offer a free 15-minute phone consultation to discuss your needs and how I can support you. Click here to request a consultation, or read on to learn more about clinical supervision and my approach.
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What is Clinical Supervision?
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Clinical supervision is a professional relationship focused on supporting your growth as a practitioner. It’s distinct from therapy, though it can include a supportive element as we explore how personal factors impact your work. Supervision is about gaining insight into your clinical practice, refining your skills, navigating complex cases, and addressing ethical and business-related challenges.
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As a supervisor, my role is to guide you in reflecting on your work, challenging you to grow, and fostering your autonomy as a therapist. Together, we’ll create a collaborative space to explore your goals, whether they’re about mastering interventions, managing difficult clients, or building a practice that reflects your values.
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How I Work
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My supervision style is warm, collaborative, and direct. I aim to create a safe space where you feel supported but also challenged to step into your potential. Sessions are tailored to your needs, drawing on tools like:
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Case reviews to deepen your understanding of clients and interventions.
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Role-plays and Socratic questioning to refine your skills.
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Reflective exercises to explore your therapeutic presence and countertransference.
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Business-focused discussions to strategise marketing, client acquisition, or practice management.
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I structure sessions using a flexible framework adapted from my own supervision experience, often covering:
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Personal factors impacting your practice (e.g., stress or life events).
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Business-related matters (e.g., marketing, finances, or office setup).
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Technical or theoretical questions (e.g., applying psychodynamic concepts).
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Case discussions to address specific client challenges.
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We may focus on one or two of these areas per session, depending on your priorities. I also incorporate the STEP UP model to ensure our work is structured and goal-oriented, while leaving room for organic exploration.
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My philosophy is to guide, not lead. I’m here to highlight potential pitfalls, offer perspective, and support you in finding your own path as a practitioner. This balance fosters your confidence and autonomy, both clinically and in your business endeavours.
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What to Expect from Supervision
Starting supervision can feel exciting but also daunting, especially as an early-career practitioner. In our initial sessions, I’ll focus on understanding your practice, goals, and challenges. We’ll discuss your clinical work, business aspirations, and any personal factors influencing your role as a therapist. By the second or third session, we’ll establish a rhythm, setting clear goals to guide our work together.
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To ensure we’re a good fit, I offer a three-session trial period, with each session charged at the standard rate. After our third session, you’re welcome to continue or part ways, depending on your preference. This trial allows us to assess whether my approach meets your needs and whether our supervisory relationship feels supportive and productive.
Supervision with me is unique because it combines clinical and business development. Having built a practice from scratch that has been generating six figures since it's third year of operation and secured a commercial lease for my own office, I’m well-equipped to help you navigate the entrepreneurial side of private practice. Whether it’s designing a website, sourcing clients, or managing finances, I’ll provide practical strategies alongside clinical guidance.
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Expect a collaborative process where you’re in the driver’s seat. I won’t offer quick fixes or dictate solutions but will work with you to uncover insights and approaches that feel authentic. Over time, you’ll notice growth in your confidence, clinical skills, and ability to manage your practice effectively.
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Meeting Professional Requirements
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I’m an approved supervisor with the Australian Counselling Association (ACA), and my supervision meets ACA requirements for professional development. I’m working toward full approval with the Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia (PACFA), but I haven’t completed their additional training yet. If you’re a PACFA member, we can discuss whether my supervision aligns with your needs in the interim.
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I provide documentation to support your professional requirements, including session logs or reports, as needed. You’ll need to ensure your supervision hours meet your association’s standards (e.g., ACA’s 10 hours per membership year or 1 hour per 20 client contact hours).
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Rates and Availability
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My fee for a 50-minute individual supervision session is $140, payable via card or direct deposit before each session. I offer sessions Tuesday to Friday from 10:30am to 4:30pm, with limited availability outside these hours due to client bookings. I can typically offer a first session within one to two weeks and prefer to agree on a regular slot based on your preferred frequency (e.g., weekly, fortnightly).
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To make the most of our time, I encourage you to email me 24 hours before each session with a brief outline of what you’d like to discuss and to follow up afterward with 3-4 key takeaways. These practices help deepen your learning and keep our work focused.
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Logistical Details
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Before starting supervision, you’ll need to sign a contract outlining expectations, including confidentiality, cancellation policies (24-hour notice required to avoid full fees), and contact outside sessions (email preferred, brief phone calls free up to 10 minutes). You’re responsible for maintaining professional indemnity insurance and upholding the ethical standards of your professional association (e.g., ACA or PACFA). Supervision is offered in person at my practice or online via Zoom.
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Why Choose Me?
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As a new supervisor, I bring enthusiasm, recent training, and a dual focus on clinical excellence and business success. My Certificate in Supervision from Supervision Training Services, combined with my experience building a thriving private practice, allows me to offer a comprehensive approach that’s rare in the field. Whether you’re refining your work with complex cases or learning to market your services, I’m here to support you with transparency, collaboration, and practical insights.
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If you’re ready to explore supervision, I invite you to book a free 15-minute consultation to discuss your goals and how we can work together. You can contact me to arrange our initial call by clicking here.